§ Mr. Irvingasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bail verification schemes similar to that established in 1975 at Camberwell Green magistrates' court are currently in existence in England and Wales.
§ Mr. MellorBetween 1975 and 1980, 37 such schemes are known to have been set up. By 1980 some magistrates' courts had already abandoned their schemes following the introduction of the Bail Act 1976 and the establishment of duty solicitor schemes. We have no information about the number of bail verification schemes, if any, which now exist.